metal stamping tips: but a bing! not a...

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Nunn Design Metal Stamping Blanks are cast in lead-free pewter and plated with copper, .999 fine silver and 24k gold. Pewter, as a metal, is softer than the various gauges of sheet metal and can be bit of a surprise to those who have experienced stamping with force to get an impression. Hence, we have put together this tutorial titled: But a Bing! Not a Bang! Here are a couple of tips for success with the Nunn Design Metal Stamping Blanks:

Metal Stamping Tips: But a Bing! Not a Bang!

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TIP: Clean The Tag (image 1)Because the Nunn Design Metal Stamping Blanks are plated pewter, you will only want to use a wet wipe to clean the surface and not a polishing cloth. If you do use a polishing cloth, and really go to town with polishing, you will eventually rub away the plating.

TIP: SeCure The Tag (image 2)For best results, tape your Nunn Design Metal Stamping Blank onto a steel block for stamping. This will provide a firm and flat surface.

TIP: Mark The TagYou will not want to use any type of permanent pen or Sharpie Marker on the Nunn Design Metal Stamping Blanks. Use a pencil to provide a stamping guide.

TIP: how To hold haMMer (image 3)When using your stamping hammer to make your impression, grip close up to the hammer’s head. This will allow you to strike with less impact. Not all hammers are equal. For best results use an 8oz Ball Pein Jeweler’s Hammer.

TIP: how To hold STaMPIng Tool (Image 4)When “binging” the Nunn Design Metal Stamping Blank, be certain that the metal stamping tool is held firmly (but not too tightly) with your fingers and held upright. Resting your fingers on the metal stamping base will also allow you to keep the stamp steady and to not slip when binging.

TIP: “BIng” onCeWhen you “bing” do it initially just one time. If you “bing” “bing”, there is a risk of the stamping moving slightly and creating a shadowed image.

TIP: “BIng” agaIn If neCeSSary (Image 5)If you “bing” and it isn’t enough of a “bing” to provide a good impression, you can line up the stamping tool within the impression and “bing” again to provide a deeper impression.

TIP: STay away froM The edge (Image 6)Metal stamping forces the metal to move, it doesn’t just go someplace else. If you stamp too close to the edge of the Nunn Design Metal Stamping Blanks, it will distort the shape and potentially chip the plating. Stay away from being too close to the edges.

TIP: “Bang” vS “BIng” (Image 7)If you “bang” too hard, you could chip the plating both on the surface and on the backside of the blank. Don’t get me wrong, you do have to “bing” with some meaning, you just don’t want to smack the heck out of it. Once the blank is smacked there is no going back or correcting. There is altering your expectations, however, see tip on Fixing Mistakes.

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TIP: darken The IMPreSSIon (Image 8)Use acrylic paint or Gilders Paste to darken your impression. Most people have read or been taught to use a Sharpie Marker to darken the impression, but again, the plating will rub off when you use a polishing cloth to remove the Sharpie Marker.

TIP: SuPPorT raISed Tag SurfaCeS (Images 9 & 10 )If you have a surface that does not have a flat back, you will need to place something underneath to prevent the tag from collapsing in the center when stamping.

TIP: fIxIng “MISTakeS” (Images 11 & 12)If you have tags that you aren’t happy with, you can cover them with colored resin!

TIP: Make a PunChIng Buffer (Image 13)If you want to punch additional holes, cut a small piece of card stock to prevent the punch from damaging the flat tag. The card stock provides a buffer.

TIP: regISTer wITh IndenT, lIne uP, Then PunCh (Images 15 & 16)Before actually punching your hole, press down slightly without the card being in place. This is to provide an indented area so that you can easily line up your punch into the hole while the card stock is in place (and making it harder to see).

TIP: BendIng flaT TagS (Image 17 & 18)Plated pewter can be bent slightly, but it must be done very gently and slowly to prevent cracking. Start on one end of the flat tag and slowly start to bend from one end to the other using Nylon Jaw Bracelet Bending Pliers.

TIP: PraCTICe, PraCTICe, PraCTICeMetal stamping, like any other art form takes practice. Allow yourself the time to learn this new craft. Otherwise, you just won’t have any fun making beautiful jewelry.

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” - Scott Adams

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metal stamping tips: but a bing! not a...

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